Strictly lineup announcement live: Another celebrity contestant set to be confirmed by BBC after Lacey Turner signs up

Strictly Come Dancing may have changed over the years but there’s always been one constant: an EastEnders star in the cast.

There has been an actor from the BBC soap on every series of Strictly since it first started in 2004 – except for the 11th series in 2013.

While Lacey Turner is the latest to take part, we’ve seen a number of Walford residents waltz their way to victory – from Jill Halfpenny in 2004 and Kara Tointon in 2010 to Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show’s first deaf contestant, winning in 2021.

Turner won’t be the first member of Albert Square’s Slater family to take on the show; in previous years, we’ve seen Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater) and Bobby Brazier (Freddie Slater), while her on-screen husband James Bye (who played the late Martin Fowler) competed in 2022. Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki Panesar on the soap, was the latest star to compete – reaching the semi-final last year.

The EastEnders star announced her stint on Strictly in a video shared to the show’s Instagram Stories – with the actor revealing that she finally signed up after watching “so many friends” do it.

“I can’t quite believe that I’m actually saying this, but I want to let you in on a little secret,” she said in the video. “This September, I will be taking my little toes onto the dance floor to do Strictly Come Dancing.

“I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and so terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plucked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor so there you go. Secret’s out! See you there in September!”

Over the last few years, we’ve seen EastEnders stars Balvinder Sopal, Jamie Borthwick, Bobby Brazier and James Bye compete on the show.

The Independent understands that the full celebrity line-up for 2026 will be announced over the next two weeks – so it’s very likely that we’ll be getting a new Strictly star every day.

So far, we’ve had EastEnders’ Lacey Turner officially join the line-up – but who’ll be next?

The EastEnders star is officially the first celebrity to enter the Strictly ballroom later this year – with the show sharing the news yesterday (Wednesday 10 June).

“I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing!” she said in a statement.

“I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”